Welding apparatus



Dec. 14, 1937. c. w. HlNES 2,101,856

WELDING APPARATUS Filed July 31, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Z? Z/ Efik;

Dec. 14, 1937. C, W. HlNES 2,101,856

WELDING APPARATUS Filed July 31, 1936 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 6 Z/ Patented Dec. 14, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT oli-FICE WELDING APPARATUS Clarence W. Hines, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Chicago Bridge & Iron Company, Chicago, lll., a

corporation of Illinois 4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in welding apparatus and, more especially, such apparatus adapted for use in the welding of steel sheets or plates. y

In the manufacture of steel tanks, and the like, using sheets of steel, it is desirable in accordance with present practice to butt-weld the edges of the sheets. In making tanks in this way, difculty has been encountered in alining and holding the sheets to properly place and locate them preparatory to the welding of the edges. By the use of my improved apparatus, the sheets of steel may be properly alined and held with their edges in proper position for welding.

My improved apparatus is cheap to manufacture, strong and rugged, andl greatly facilitates the welding of various members, especially the edges of steel sheets as mentioned above.

Other features and advantages of my invention will appear more fully as I proceed with my specication.

In that form of device embodying the features of my invention shown in the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a portion of a steel structure, for example, a tank, showing some bottom and side plates in position for the butt-welding of their edges; Fig. 2 is a view taken as indicated by the line 2 of Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a view taken as indicated by the line 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view showing the welding of a side sheet onto a bottom sheet; Fig. 5 is aview taken as indicated by the line 5 of Fig. 1;'Fig. 6 is an enlarged view in front elevation of my improved welding apparatus; Fig. 7 is a sectional View showing the welding of two adjacent edges of the side sheets of a tank or similar structure; Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a modied form; Fig. 9 is a View taken as indicated by the line 9 of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a view taken as indicated by the line III of Fig. 8; and Fig, 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10, showing a modification.

As shown in the drawings, I0, I I and I2 may indicate sheets or plates of steel forming the side wall, for example, of a cylindrical tank and I3, one of the bottom sheets. The side sheets are butt-welded together and the bottom of the lower side sheet I2 meets the bottom sheet I3 at right angles, as shown in Fig. 4, so that the bottom sheet has a projecting margin I3a outside of the ,side sheet I2. I4, I4 indicate the welding of the sheets. In Fig. '7, I5 indicates the welding of the edges of the sheets I I and I2.

I shall first describe the apparatus used for holding the side sheets II and I2 or I0 and Il. This includes a rectangular plate I6 with two square holes Il and I 8 adapted to receive apertured holding lugs I9 and 20 on the sheets I I and I2. 2| and 22 indicate wedges adapted to be .driven through the apertures in the holding lugs I9 and 20 to draw the sheets II and I2 against the plate I6 to bring these sheets into the same plane.

The plate I 6 is provided with bars 23 and 24 above and below the upper hole I'I and similar bars 25 and 26 above and below the lower hole I8. The sides of these bars form shoulders adjacent the apertures I1 and I8. 21 indicates a wedge adapted to be driven between the bar 23 and the holding lug 29 in order to shift the sheet laterally with respect to the plate I6. I am using the term laterally to indicate the shifting of a sheet in any direction in the same plane. That is, the side sheets by proper positioning of the apparatus may be shifted upwardly, downwardly or sidewise; and, likewise, the bottom sheet may be shifted in any direction in itsown plane. A wedge driven between the bar 24 and the holding lug I9 will serve to shift the sheet upwardly. In like manner, the sheet I2 may shift either downwardly or upwardly by means of a wedge between the holding lug 20 and the bar 25 or 26. The wedge 28 is shown in the latter position to shift the sheet I2 upwardly.

The improved welding apparatus is also shown between sheets I0 and II and it will be seen that inthis position the wedges 29 and 30 can be used to shift theA sheets I0 and I sidewise with respect to the plate I6.

'I'he holding lugs I9 and 20 may be attached to the sheets II and I2 in any suitable manner as by welding and may be removed after the edges of the sheets have been permanently welded together.

In Figs. 2 and 3, I have shown the invention adapted for holding a side sheet I 2 in proper position to have its lower edge welded to the upper surface of a bottom sheet I3. As here shown, the holding plate I6 instead of being at is angular. I have indicated this plate by the numeral I|6. Its upper flange has the hole II1 and its lower flange, the hole II 8, these holes adapted to receive the holding lugs I I9 and |20 attached to the side sheet I2 and bottom sheet I3, respectively. The wedges I2| and |22 are utilized to draw the sheets tightly against the plate I|6. Above the hole I I'I is the bar I 23 and at the two sides of the hole I I8 are the bars |25 and |26. The wedge |21 is utilized to shift the sheet I2 downwardly with respect to the plate I I 6 until its lower edge is in proper position on the bottom sheet I3 for welding. The wedge |28 is utilized to shift the bottom sheet I3 laterally with respect to the plate IIS to provide the proper projecting marginal edge I3a prior to the welding operation.

In Fig. 8, I have shown a modified form. As here shown, 2li), 2|| and 2I2 may also indicate sheets or plates of steel forming the side wall, for example, of a cylindrical tank. For holding the sheets 2I0 and 2|2 or 2|I and 2|2 together, I provide plates 2|6 with reinforcing flanges 2|6. The plates 2I6 with the reinforcing anges 2|6 may be formed by using channel irons.

The plates 2|6 are provided with apertures 2|`| and 2 I8 adapted to receive apertured holding lugs 2|9 and 220 on the sheets 2|| and 2I2. 22| and 222 indicate wedges adapted to be driven through the apertures in the holding lugs 2I9 and 220 to draw the sheets 2I| and 2| 2 against the plates 2 I6 to bring these sheets into the same plane. If

desired, the apertured holding lugs may be turned at an angle of when fastened to the sheet 2|2, as shown in Fig. 1l, and in such case the holding lug 320 is made somewhat longer so that its aperture will lie mostly above the tops of the flanges 2 I, as shown in Fig. l1. When so used, the wedge 32| may lie on top of the anges 2|6.

Although I have shown and described above the apertures as particularly applied for use in the welding of sheets of steel, it is obvious that it may be employed in connection with the welding of members of any kind. The use of channel members as shown in Figs. 8 to 1l is particularly useful in connection with the welding of cylindrical surfaces, such as shown in Figs. 10 and 11. The use of the invention permits the establishment of a welding procedure which takes cognizance of the fact that shrinkage from welding is mostly across the joint, there being very little, if any, shrinkage in the direction parallel to the joint.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction andarrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims, in :which it is my intendriven through the apertures in the holding lugs I to draw the members against the plate; a shoulder on the plate adjacent an aperture init; and a wedge adapted to be driven between a/,holding lug and the shoulder to shift the member laterally with respect to the plate.

2. Welding apparatus, including: apertured holding lugs adapted to be attached to members to be welded together; a plate apertured to receive said apertured holding lugs when attached to members to be welded together; wedges adapted to be driven through the apertures in the holding lugs to draw the members against the plate; a shoulder on the plate adjacent an aperture in it; and a wedge adapted to be driven between a holding lug and the shoulder to shift the member lat# erally with respect to the plate.

3. Welding apparatus, including: an angular plate apertured to receive apertured holding lugs on members to be welded together in angular relationship; wedges adapted to be driven through the apertures in the holding lugs to draw the members against the plate; a shoulder on the plate adjacent an aperture in it; and a wedge adapted to be driven between a holding lug and the shoulder to shift the member laterally with respect to the plate.

4. Welding apparatus, including: apertured holding lugs adapted to be attached to members to be welded together; an angular plate apertured to receive said apertured holding lugs when attached to members to be welded together in angular relationship; wedges adapted to be driven through the apertures in the holding lugs to draw the members against the plate; a shoulder on the plate adjacent an aperture in it; and a wedge adapted to be driven between a holding lug and the shoulder to shift the member laterally with respect to the plate.

CLARENCE W. HINES. 

